• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.369-374
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• 2008

A novel fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor using cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) prism with the spectral modulation is presented. The SPR sensor chip is fabricated using the SU-8 photolithography, Ni-electroplating and COC injection molding process. The sidewall of the COC prism is partially deposited with Au/Cr (45/2.nm thickness) by e-beam evaporator, and the thermal bonding process is conducted for micro fluidic channels and optical fibers alignment. The SPR spectrum for a phosphate buffered saline (0.1.M PBS, pH.7.2) solution shows a distinctive dip at 1300.nm wavelength, which shifts toward longer wavelength with respect to the bovine serum albumin (BSA)concentrations. The sensitivity of the wavelength shift is $1.16\;nm{\cdot}{\mu}g^{-1}{\cdot}{\mu}l^{-1}$. From the wavelength of SPR dips, the refractive indices (RI) of the BSA solutions can be theoretically calculated using Kretchmann configuration, and the change rate of the RI was found to be $2.3{\times}10^{-5}RI{\cdot}{\mu}g^{-1}{\cdot}l^{-1}$. The realized fiber optic SPR sensor with a COC prism has clearly shown the feasibility of a new disposable, low cost and miniaturized SPR biosensor for biochemical molecular analyses.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2016

Cryopreservation has been applied successfully in many mammalian species. Nevertheless, pig embryos, because of their greater susceptibility to cryoinjuries, have shown a reduced developmental competence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival status of vitrified-warmed porcine embryos. Forced blastocoele collapse (FBC) and non-FBC blastocysts are vitrified and concomitantly cultured in culture media which were supplemented with/without fetal bovine serum (FBS). Porcine vitrified-warmed embryos were examined in four different methods: group A, non-FBC without FBS; group B, non-FBC with FBS; group C, FBC without FBS; group D, FBC with FBS. After culture, differences in survival rates of blastocysts derived from vitrified-warmed porcine embryos were found in group A~D (39.5 (A) vs 52.5 (B) and 54.8 (C) vs 66.7% (D), respectively, p<0.05). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of survived blastocysts was lower in group D than that of another groups (p<0.05). Moreover, total cell number of survived blastocysts was higher in group D than that of other groups (p<0.05). Otherwise, group D showed significantly lower number of apoptotic cells than other groups ($2.0{\pm}1.5$ vs $3.2{\pm}2.1$, $2.8{\pm}1.9$, and $2.7{\pm}1.6$, respectively, p<0.05). Taken together, these results showed that FBS/FBC improves the developmental competence of vitrified porcine embryos by modulating intracellular levels of ROS and the apoptotic index during the vitrification/warming procedure. Therefore, we suggest that FBS and FBC are effective treatment techniques during the vitrification/warming procedures of porcine blastocysts.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.734-738
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• 2011

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of invasive infection in young infants and older adults. There are currently 90 capsular serotypes identified and 23 serotypes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 8, 9N, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 17F, 18C, 19F, 19A, 20, 22F, 23F, and 33F) are responsible for about 90% of invasive disease. Among the more than 90 different S. pneumoniae serotypes, serotype 19A is globally very prevalent. A simplified purification procedure including adjustment of cell lysate pH to 4.5, fractionation with 50. 80% ethanol, and dialysis rendered capsular polysaccharide (CPS) in a yield of $31.32{\pm}3.11$ mg from 1 l culture (75% recovery after lyses). The product contained only 69.6 ${\mu}g$ of protein (99.78% purity) and 0.8mg (sum of the precipitants from 50~60%, 60~70%, and 70~80%) of nucleic acid (97.45% purity). The purified CPS was conjugated with bovine serum albumin; the product size ranged from 100 to 180 kDa.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.852-858
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• 2008

An extracellular protease (Mc1) was isolated from the nematode-trapping fungus Monacrosporium cystosporium by gel filtration, anion-exchange, and hydrophobic interaction chromatographies. This protease had a molecular mass of approximately 38 kDa and displayed an optimal activity at pH 7-9 and $56^{\circ}C$ (over 30 min). Its proteolytic activity was highly sensitive to the serine protease inhibitor PMSF (phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, 0.1 mM), indicating that it belonged to the serine-type peptidase group. The Michaelis constant ($K_m$) and $V_max$ for substrate N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA were $1.67{\times}10^{-4}\;M$ and 0.6071 $OD_{410}$ per 30 s, respectively. This protease could degrade a broad range of substrates including casein, gelatin, BSA (bovine serum albumin), and nematode cuticle. Moreover, the enzyme could immobilize the free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus and the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, suggesting that it might playa role in infection against nematodes. The encoding gene of Mc1 was composed of one intron and two exons, coding for a polypeptide of 405 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of Mcl showed 61.4-91.9% identity to serine proteases from other nematode-trapping fungi. Our results identified that Mcl possessed biochemical properties including optimal reaction condition and substrate preference that are different from previously identified serine proteases.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2020

This present study was conducted to investigate protective effect of discontinuous Percoll gradient containing alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) before freezing process on viability, acrosome damage, mitochondrial activity, and oxidative stress of frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa. The separation of spermatozoa by discontinuous Percoll gradient was performed by different concentration of Percoll solution (45/90%) containing ALA combined with bovine serum albumin (BSA), and collected sperm in each Percoll layer was cryopreserved. To evaluate viability, acrosome damage, mitochondrial activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of frozen-thawed sperm, flow cytometry was used. Morphological abnormalities were observed under light microscope. In results, viability of sperm from 90% Percoll layer was higher than control and 45% Percoll group (p < 0.05). Separated sperm in 90% Percoll layer had lower acrosome damage and morphological abnormalities than control as well as viability, whereas 45% Percoll group was higher (p < 0.05). Similar with acrosome damage and abnormalities, mitochondrial activity was slightly enhanced and the population of live sperm with high ROS level was decreased by 90% Percoll separation, however, there was no significant difference. Supplementation of 3 ng/mL ALA into Percoll solution increased sperm viability and decreased population of live sperm with high ROS compared to control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, discontinuous Percoll gradient before freezing process could improve efficiency of cryopreservation of boar sperm through selection of sperm with high freezing resistance, and supplement of ALA during Percoll gradient might contribute suppression of ROS generation via stabilizing of plasma membrane during cryopreservation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.261-267
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• 2002

The aim of the present study was to investigate the interaction of $estradiol-17{\beta}-bovine$ serum albumin $(E_2-BSA)$ and calcitropic hormones, such as parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and vitamin D, in regulation of $Ca^{2+}$ uptake in primary cultured renal proximal tubule cells. Statistically significant increase in $Ca^{2+}$ uptake was found from 2 hours after $(E_2-BSA)\;(10^{-9}\;M)$ treatment, while $estradiol-17{\beta}\;(10^{-9}\;M)$ did not affect. Treatment of the cells with $(E_2-BSA)\;(10^{-9}\;M)$ together with parathyroid hormone (PTH) $(10^{-8}\;M),$ vitamin D $(10^{-8}\;M),$ or calcitonin $(10^{-8}\;M)$ significantly stimulated $Ca^{2+}$ uptake by 32.50%, 29.30%, or 27.75%, respectively, compared with the control. However, calcitropic hormones did not exhibit any synergistic effect on the E2-BSA-induced stimulation. $E_2-BSA$ significantly increased cAMP generation and PKC activity. The stimulatory effect of cotreatment of $E_2-BSA$ and PTH or vitamin D was blocked by SQ22536 (an adenylate cyclase inhibitor) and staurosporine (a PKC inhibitor), but the effect of cotreatment of $E_2-BSA$ and calcitonin was not blocked. Furthermore, 8-Br-cAMP and TPA (an artificial PKC promoter) increased $Ca^{2+}$ uptake by 25.51% and 16.47%, respectively, compared with the control. In conclusion, $E_2-BSA$ combined with calcitropic hormones regulated $Ca^{2+}$ uptake partially via cAMP and PKC-dependent mechanisms in renal proximal tubule cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.379-381
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• 1993

We experienced the partial Inhibition of entry of Taxoplasma gondii Into MDCK cells when the FBS was depleted from media. MDCK cells and Toxoplasma (RH strains) were co-cultured, the penetration was inhibited up to 60-80% with concentration-dependence of FBS. Inhibitory effect was clear when the conc. of FBS was over 1% (v/v) with 50% inhibition comic. of 5%. When ToxopLosma was pre-incubated with FBS and then applied to MDCK cells, there were no inhibitory effect, but when FBS was added to Toxoplasma- MDCK co-culture, the time of adding was c10cal with rapid inhibition. And when FBS was further treated with heat ($95^{\circ}C$, 10 min), the Inhibitory effect was decreased slightiy in both raw and inactivated FBS. The FBS factor(s) might participate to neutralize secreted materials which enhancing penetration or Intervene between receptor-ligand blnding at the moment of entry through sterically rather than functionally.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2001

The antigenic domain of the major surface protein (Nc-p43) of Neospora caninum was examined by polymerase chain reaction of its gene fragments and recombinant expression as GST fusion proteins. The fragments of Nc-p43 were as follow: a total open reading frame (OFR), T: OFR without signal sequence and C-terminal hydrophobic sequence, S: N-terminal 2/3 parts of S, A: C-terminal 2/3 parts, P; N-terminal 1/3 part, X: middle 1/3 part Y; and C-terminal 1/3 part, Z, respectively. The DNA fragments were cloned into pGEX-47 vector. Recombinant plasmids transformed into Escherichia coli of BL21 pLysS (DE3) strain were induced to express GST or GST fused fragments of Nc-p43 such as 69 kDa protein for T,66 kDa for S, 52 kDa for A,53 kDa for P, and 40 kDa proteins for X, Y, and Z, respectively in SDS-PAGE. The Nc-p43 fragments of T, S, and P reacted with a bovine serum of neosporosis while those of A, X, Y, and Z together with GST did not in the western blot. These findings suggest that the antigenic domain of Nc-p43 of N. caninum may be localized in the C-terminal 2/3 parts. Together with Al9 clone in SAGI of Toxoplasma gondii (Nam et at., 1996), the P fragment of Nc-p43 could be used as efficient antigens to diagnose and differentiate those infections with both species .

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 1998

This study was carried out to develop antitumor agents based on effects of the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the methanolic extract of Lonicerae flos on human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells. Human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 media containing 10% fetal bovine serum, antibiotic, and fungizone. After incubation for 24 hrs, the cells were treated with A, B, C, D, and E fractions for 48hrs under the same condition. MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazoliumbromide), NR (Neutral red) and SRB (Sulforhodamine B protein) assay were performed. The light microscopic findings were observed by inverted microscope. In MTT assay, fraction B was shown significant antitumor activity (P<0.001), fraction E was shown significant antitumor activities (P<0.05), but the other fractions were not shown. In NR assay, fraction B was shown significant antitumor activity (P<0.001). In SRB assay, fractions B was shown significant antitumor activities (P<0.01). fractions A and D were shown significant antitumor activities (P<0.05). but the other fractions were not shown. In light microscopy. the fraction B of the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the methanolic extract of Lonicerae flos showed the highest antitumor activity. These finding suggested that fraction B possessed the most antitumorous agent.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.285-289
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• 1987

The partition behavior or proteins in an aqueous two-phase system of poly (ethyleneglycol)-potassium phosphate buffer (PEG/PPB) was investigated. The proteins of different surface hydrophobicity, i.e. Bovine serum albumin (BSA), ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$, ovalbumin. moved to the PPB-rich bottom phase in a PEG(12%)/PPB (12%) two-phase system resulting in very low partition coefficients. When the concentration of PPB increased to 15% level. the electric potential of bottom phase changed from +50 mV to zero and the partition coefficient tended to increase. The change In the molar ratio of $K_2HPO_4/KH_2PO_4$ in PPB from 1.43 to 9.55 caused the volume ratio of top to bottom phase $(V_t/V_b)$ to be decreased and protein partition coefficient increased. When the concentration of PPB was elevated from 14% to 26%, the $V_t/V_b$ decreased from 1.5 to 0.39 and the partition coefficient of proteins increased drastically; ${\beta}-lactoglobulin$ 74 fold. BSA 32 fold, ovalbumin 12 fold and lysozyme 5 fold.